Motorcycle crashes escalate.

For the first time in 20 years, highway fatalities are on the rise. One reason for the increase in overall deaths is a jump in crashes involving motorcyclists.

Motorcycle rider fatalities and motorcycle registrations have both been on the rise over the last few years. The rate of increase in fatalities has outpaced the increase in registrations, but not necessarily the rate of miles driven.

While fatality rates in other areas have been declining over recent years, 2005 was the eighth year in a row that motorcycle fatalities had gone up. They rose from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005--a 13 percent increase. Sixty-five percent of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets in states without universal helmet laws compared to 14 percent in states with universal helmet laws. Helmets can reduce the risk of death by 35 percent to 50 percent.

This year, 20 state legislatures looked at ways to increase motorcycle safety. A handful considered bills to make changes to current motorcycle helmet laws. In Michigan, the Legislature passed a bill that would have repealed the helmet law. The governor, however, vetoed it. California, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia also considered legislation to change current helmet laws. The bills in these states would have changed current law to apply only to riders of a certain age. Rhode Island considered legislation that would have applied the helmet law to all riders instead...